Sketchbook #8

It’s been a couple of months since I posted one of these creative updates, so this one’s going to cover December and January—both of which felt like I didn’t really get anything done, but when I actually look back, both turned out to be pleasantly productive.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

First off… the site redesign. I’m really happy with how it’s turned out. (If you’re reading this via email or RSS or whatever, and haven’t seen the new site… please, come take a look!) I’m still working on bits and pieces of it—and the ‘Photography’ section in particular is still very much a work in progress while I sort through years of pictures—but I’ve finished most of the minor tweaks.

I think.

Speaking of photography… that’s actually where most of my creative energy has been going for the last two months. Of course, there’s the Weekly Photo Challenge, which has managed to actually be a challenge, and is pushing me in just the ways I’ve needed. And there’s a second, daily, photo project I’ve been working on since the beginning of the year (I’ll probably talk about that later, but I’m not certain when). And… I’ve had some of my photos (a couple of the Montréal pictures) printed. Which really shouldn’t be a big deal (I grew up shooting film, and getting my pictures printed all the time), but it kind of is. I—like a lot of people—tend to leave my digital photos on the computer, and never really see them unless it’s on a screen. Which is a mistake. I’m really happy with the prints, and, more importantly, so is the person who got them for Christmas. 😀

That’s the big stuff. Since the year began, I’ve been easing back into drawing (which got lost in the shuffle around Christmas), which has been… ok… and I’ve started working on The Steal Like an Artist Journal. That’s been better. (I have more thoughts on it than just “that’s been better,” but I’m only really getting into it now, and it feels too early to go into detail. I’ll have more to say when I get further into it.)

Like I said: it hasn’t felt like the most productive two months, and I’m still kind of reeling from losing one of my most important creative heroes. But despite everything—and despite the month-long existential and creative crisis that always hits me in January—I’m happy with the work I’ve been doing, and I’m starting to get excited about what I’m going to be doing in the next few months.